U.S. patent number 8,641,313 [Application Number 13/570,482] was granted by the patent office on 2014-02-04 for latch for securing a compute node in a component storage rack.
This patent grant is currently assigned to International Business Machines Corporation. The grantee listed for this patent is Martin J. Crippen, Anthony F. Katsaros, Brian M. Kerrigan. Invention is credited to Martin J. Crippen, Anthony F. Katsaros, Brian M. Kerrigan.
United States Patent |
8,641,313 |
Crippen , et al. |
February 4, 2014 |
Latch for securing a compute node in a component storage rack
Abstract
A latch comprises a frame securable to an enclosure, and a
handle pivotally secured to the frame for pivoting between a closed
position and an open position. The distal end of the handle has a
drive pin extending therefrom. The latch also comprises a pawl
having a latch key, a distal end secured to the frame, and a
proximal end coupled to the drive pin. Closing the handle causes
the drive pin to move the pawl toward a side of the chassis bay and
deploy the latch key into engagement with a slot in the side of the
chassis bay. Opening the handle causes the drive pin to move the
pawl away from a side of the chassis bay and withdraw the latch key
out of engagement with the slot in the side of the chassis bay.
Inventors: |
Crippen; Martin J. (Apex,
NC), Katsaros; Anthony F. (Youngsville, NC), Kerrigan;
Brian M. (Cary, NC) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Crippen; Martin J.
Katsaros; Anthony F.
Kerrigan; Brian M. |
Apex
Youngsville
Cary |
NC
NC
NC |
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
International Business Machines
Corporation (Armonk, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
50001567 |
Appl.
No.: |
13/570,482 |
Filed: |
August 9, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
403/322.1;
361/679.39 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K
5/0221 (20130101); G11B 33/124 (20130101); H05K
7/1409 (20130101); Y10T 403/595 (20150115); Y10T
403/591 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
B25G
3/18 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;403/321,322.4,325,326,108 ;16/110.1,412 ;361/727,755,807,810
;312/332.1,319.1,223,333,223.2
;292/80,81,84,87,303,194,195,200,DIG.61 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
IBM TDB, "Method to Increase Surface Area for Microelectronic
Applications", http://www.ip.com/pubview/IPCOM000015477D, Aug. 17,
2002, 7 Pages (Title Page and pp. 1-6). cited by applicant .
"Method for personalized notebook chassis designs",
http://www.ip.com/pubview/IPCOM000141646D, Oct. 11, 2006, 6 Pages.
cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Ferguson; Michael P
Assistant Examiner: Wiley; Daniel
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Brown; Katherine S. Streets;
Jeffrey L.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A latch, comprising: a frame securable to a proximal end of a
compute node enclosure receivable within a chassis bay having at
least one slot in a side thereof; a handle pivotally secured to the
frame by a pivot pin, the pivot pin located intermediate a proximal
end of the handle and a distal end of the handle so that the handle
can be pivoted about the pivot pin between a closed position and an
open position, wherein the distal end of the handle has a drive pin
extending therefrom; a flexible pawl comprising a flat metal sheet
and having, a distal end secured to a first side of the frame
adjacent the side of the chassis bay, and a proximal end, the
proximal end comprising a latch key on a first side thereof facing
the slot, and a channel on an opposing second side thereof, the
channel formed by bending the proximal end of the flat metal sheet
back toward the distal end, wherein the channel receives the drive
pin and allows the drive pin to move within the channel, and
wherein the proximal end of the flexible pawl is spring-biased
toward the first side of the frame such that the latch key is
normally biased into the slot in the chassis bay; wherein
positioning of the handle in the closed position causes the drive
pin to move towards the first side of the frame so as to allow the
proximal end of the flexible pawl to move toward the side of a
chassis bay and deploy the latch key through the slot; and wherein
positioning of the handle in the open position causes the drive pin
to move away from the first side of the frame and flex the proximal
end of the flexible pawl away from the first side of the frame and
withdraw the latch key from the slot.
2. The latch of claim 1, wherein the flexible pawl is in a relaxed
condition to deploy the latch key and in a flexed condition to
withdraw the latch key.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a latch for securing a compute
node in a component storage rack.
2. Background of the Related Art
A compute node generally includes electronic data processing and
data storage components secured to a circuit board that is disposed
within an enclosure. Several compute nodes may be supported in a
chassis or rack. Typically, a compute node is adapted for network
connection to a host system that communicates data to and from the
compute node.
A plurality of compute nodes may be stored in a plurality of bays
formed in a chassis or rack. This configuration enables a host
computer to interface with numerous compute nodes. Each bay of the
chassis or rack may include a connector to electronically dock with
mating connectors on the compute node when secured within that bay.
A compute node interface connector may be disposed at a leading end
of a compute node, and the interface connector may plug into a
mating connector positioned at the end of the bay.
During compute node installation, the leading end of the compute
node is inserted into the mouth of the bay with the mating
connector of the compute node aligned with the interface connector
within the bay. As the compute node moves further into the bay, the
connector on the compute node is coupled to the connector within
the bay. The compute node may be secured in this interfaced
position using a latch that prevents the compute node from being
inadvertently displaced from the interfaced position during
use.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment of the invention provides a latch comprising a frame
securable to a proximal end of a compute node enclosure, and a
handle pivotally secured to the frame intermediate a proximal end
of the handle and a distal end of the handle so that the handle can
be pivoted between a closed position and an open position, wherein
the distal end of the handle has a drive pin extending therefrom.
The latch also comprises a pawl having a latch key, a distal end
secured to the frame, and a proximal end coupled to the drive pin.
Positioning the handle in the closed position causes the drive pin
to move the proximal end of the pawl toward a side of the chassis
bay and deploy the latch key beyond the frame and into engagement
with a proximal end of a slot in the side of the chassis bay.
Positioning the handle in the open position causes the drive pin to
move the pawl away from a side of the chassis bay and withdraw the
latch key out of engagement with the proximal end of the slot in
the side of the chassis bay.
Another embodiment of the invention is a latch comprising a frame
securable to a proximal end of a compute node enclosure, and a
handle slidably secured to the frame, wherein the handle can slide
between an inward position and an outward position, wherein the
distal end of the handle has a drive pin extending therefrom. The
latch further comprises a rigid pawl having a latch key, a distal
end pivotally secured to the frame, and a slot that receives the
drive pin. Inserting the handle from the outward position to the
inward position causes the drive pin to move within the slot, push
the proximal end of the pawl toward a side of the chassis bay, and
deploy the latch key beyond the frame and into engagement with a
proximal end of a slot in the side of the chassis bay. Withdrawing
the handle from the inward position to the outward position causes
the drive pin to move within the slot, pull the proximal end of the
pawl away from a side of the chassis bay, and withdraw the latch
key within the frame and out of engagement with the proximal end of
the slot in the side of the chassis bay.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE APPENDED DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the latch of
the present invention having a spring-biased pawl coupled to the
frame and having a channel to receive a cam on a pivoting
handle.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the first embodiment of the latch
revealing the latch key on the pawl received within a slot in a
side rail to secure the compute node enclosure within a bay of a
component storage rack.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the first embodiment of the latch after
the handle is pivoted relative to the frame to deflect the
spring-biased pawl to withdraw the latch key from a slot in the
side rail and facilitate removal of the chassis from the bay.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a latch of the
present invention having a reciprocating handle coupled to a
pivoting pawl.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the second embodiment of the latch after
the handle is extended to pivotally disengage the latch key on the
pawl from the slot in the chassis.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the latch
illustrating a hinged handle portion in a stowed position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a latch for securing a component,
such as a compute node enclosure, into a component bay of a chassis
or rack. Although the invention is described herein in the context
of a latch adapted for being connected to a compute node, it should
be recognized that the latch may be implemented to secure other
hardware components into a bay of a chassis in a similar
manner.
A first embodiment of the invention provides a latch comprising a
frame securable to a proximal end of a compute node enclosure, and
a handle pivotally secured to the frame intermediate a proximal end
of the handle and a distal end of the handle so that the handle can
be pivoted between a closed position and an open position, wherein
the distal end of the handle has a drive pin extending therefrom.
The latch also comprises a pawl having a latch key, a distal end
secured to the frame, and a proximal end coupled to the drive
pin.
Positioning the handle in the closed position causes the drive pin
to move the proximal end of the pawl toward a side of the chassis
bay and deploy the latch key beyond the frame and into engagement
with a proximal end of a slot in the side of the chassis bay.
Positioning the handle in the open position causes the drive pin to
move the pawl away from a side of the chassis bay and withdraw the
latch key out of engagement with the proximal end of the slot in
the side of the chassis bay.
The handle must be in the open position during installation and
removal of the compute node enclosure to and from the chassis bay.
An optional keeper may be used to secure the handle in the closed
position and prevent the inadvertent opening of the handle when the
compute node is in the interfaced position within the bay of the
component storage rack.
The pawl may be rigid, but is preferably a flexible arm with the
distal end of the pawl securely attached to the frame. A flexible
arm is preferably in a relaxed condition to deploy the latch key
and in a flexed condition to withdraw the latch key. A suitable
flexible arm may be made with a flat metal sheet or strip.
Accordingly, a slot for receiving the drive pin may be formed by
bending a proximal end of the flat metal sheet back toward the
distal end.
A second embodiment of the invention is a latch comprising a frame
securable to a proximal end of a compute node enclosure, and a
handle slidably secured to the frame, wherein the handle can slide
between an inward position and an outward position, wherein the
distal end of the handle has a drive pin extending therefrom. The
latch further comprises a rigid pawl having a latch key, a distal
end pivotally secured to the frame, and a slot that receives the
drive pin.
Inserting the handle from the outward position to the inward
position causes the drive pin to move within the slot, push the
proximal end of the pawl toward a side of the chassis bay, and
deploy the latch key beyond the frame and into engagement with a
proximal end of a slot in the side of the chassis bay. Withdrawing
the handle from the inward position to the outward position causes
the drive pin to move within the slot, pull the proximal end of the
pawl away from a side of the chassis bay, and withdraw the latch
key within the frame and out of engagement with the proximal end of
the slot in the side of the chassis bay.
In this second embodiment, the latch key may optionally be formed
at the proximal end of the pawl. Furthermore, the proximal end of
the pawl may also form a stop element that prevents the pawl from
extending too far outside the frame.
Still further, the second embodiment may include a handle having a
proximal end that is hinged to move between a stowed position and
an extended position. In one optional aspect, the stowed position
of the handle may keep the handle within the frame when the handle
is also in the inward position, and wherein the extended position
of the handle may allow the handle to extend beyond the frame even
when the handle is in the inward position. In another optional
aspect, the stowed position of the handle may prevent the handle
from moving out of the inward position, or the stowed position of
the handle may prevent the pawl from disengaging from the slot in
the side of the chassis bay.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the latch
10 of the present invention having a spring-like flexible pawl 61
coupled to the frame 12 and having a channel 68 to receive a drive
pin 65 on a pivoting handle 20. The handle 20 is pivotally coupled
to the frame 12 at a first pivot 26. The drive pin 65 is disposed
on a distal end 24 of the handle 20 and is received within the
channel 68 of the flexible pawl 61. The drive pin 65 will follow an
arcuate path upon pivoting of the handle 20 about the first pivot
26 towards the open position, and the drive pin 65 will remain
within the channel 68 while deflecting the pawl 61.
The frame 12 may include tabs 14 for securing the latch to the
enclosure 50, either temporarily or permanently. The frame 12 is
also shown including a keeper 40 for securing the handle 20 in a
closed position. To release the keeper 40, the user would pivot the
keeper away from the handle 20.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the first embodiment of the latch 10 of
FIG. 1 revealing the latch key 38 on the pawl 61. The latch key 38
extends through a window 17 in the wall 18 to be received within a
slot 58 in a side 56 of the chassis to secure the enclosure 50
within the bay 53 of a chassis 51. The latch key 38 is part of the
pawl 61 and is responsible for securing the enclosure 50 within the
bay 53 by preventing movement of the enclosure 50, to which the
latch 10 is connected, in a proximal direction indicated by arrow
31. The pawl 61 may be coupled to the frame 12 at a retainer
portion 67 of the pawl 61 to permit limited deflection of the pawl
61. By pivoting of the handle 20, the latch key 38 can be withdrawn
from the slot 58 as indicated in FIG. 3.
FIG. 3 is the plan view of FIG. 2 after the handle 20 has pivoted
relative to the frame 12 to an open position. Accordingly, the
flexible pawl 61 has been deflected to withdraw the latch key 38
from the chassis slot 58 and the frame window 17 in preparation for
removing the chassis 50 from the bay. The pawl 61 is deflected by
engagement of the cam 65 with the side 69 of the channel 68 formed
in the pawl 61 to deflect the pawl 61 and withdraw the latch key 38
from the slot 58. This releases the chassis 50 to be withdrawn from
the bay, for example by pulling the proximal end 22 of the handle
20 in the direction of arrow 31.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a latch 100
of the present invention including a pawl 70 with a latch key 78
pivotally coupled to the frame 12 of the latch 100 to pivot between
a secured position, illustrated in FIG. 4, and a released position,
illustrated in FIG. 5. The pawl 70 is pivotally coupled to the
frame 12 at a pawl pivot 71 and has a channel 73 to receive and
cooperate with a drive pin 72 on the handle 74. The embodiment of
the latch 100 includes a linearly slidable and reciprocatable
handle 74 with the drive pin 72 thereon received within the channel
73 in the pawl 70. In one embodiment, the handle 76 may be slidable
retained on the frame 12 by a set of guides 80 that allow slidable
movement of the handle 76 relative to the frame 12.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the latch 100 in the secured position of
the pawl 70 with the latch key 78 disposed within the slot 58 in
the side 56 a chassis to prevent inadvertent removal of the
enclosure 50. The latch key 78 is able to extend beyond the frame
12 through a window 17 formed in the wall 18. The handle 76 of the
latch 100 may include a hinge 79 that permits stowing of a proximal
portion 74 of the handle 76 in a stowed position (see FIG. 6). The
latch 100 operates to release the enclosure 50 from the secured
position by pulling the proximal portion 74 of the handle 76 in the
direction of the arrow 77 to pivot the pawl 70 about the pawl pivot
71 in the direction of arrow 75. The handle 76 slides along a
linear path between a pair of rails 80.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the latch 100 of FIG. 4 after the handle
74, 76 has been pulled outwardly to pivot the pawl 70 and to
disengage the latch key 78 from the slot 58 in the chassis side
wall 56. The cam 72 on the handle 76 moves along and within the
channel 73 of the pawl 70 to the position illustrated in FIG. 5 to
pivot the pawl 70 about the pawl pivot 71 and thereby withdraw the
latch key 78 from the slot 58 in the side 56 of the chassis,
thereby enabling the removal of the chassis 50 from the bay 53 of
the component storage rack 51. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the
latch 100 of FIG. 4 illustrating the hinged handle 74 moved about
the hinge 79 to a stowed position relative to the frame 12.
The terms "comprising," "including," and "having," as used in the
claims and specification herein, shall be considered as indicating
an open group that may include other elements not specified. The
terms "a," "an," and the singular forms of words shall be taken to
include the plural form of the same words, such that the terms mean
that one or more of something is provided. The term "one" or
"single" may be used to indicate that one and only one of something
is intended. Similarly, other specific integer values, such as
"two," may be used when a specific number of things is intended.
The terms "preferably," "preferred," "prefer," "optionally," "may,"
and similar terms are used to indicate that an item, condition or
step being referred to is an optional (not required) feature of the
invention.
While the invention has been described with respect to a limited
number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of
this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be
devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as
disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be
limited only by the attached claims.
* * * * *
References